February 2025 Education Update

Oregon Achieves... Together!

A Message from Oregon Department of Education Director Dr. Charlene Williams

Dear Education Community,

February is Black History Month

This month offers us a valuable opportunity to celebrate and deepen our understanding of the rich contributions of Black Americans throughout our history. And while the legacies of Black individuals should be integrated into each month, I encourage each of you to take part in activities and events celebrating Black History to honor the achievements and legacies of Black leaders, artists, educators, and community members.

Please use these resources to celebrate Black History Month, now and into the future.

Celebrate Career and Technical Education

This month is also Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. It’s an opportunity to elevate and celebrate the accomplishments of Oregon’s CTE Programs.

Students completing two credits in an approved CTE Program of Study significantly exceeded the statewide average, graduating at a rate of 97.7 percent.
CTE Program numbers around Oregon are growing. In 2022-23, Oregon schools hosted a total of 1,029 CTE Programs of Study. The number now stands at 1,114. Here’s a quick snapshot of recent growth:
- 2022-2023: 1,029
- 2023-2024: 1,074 (+45)
- 2024-2025: 1,114 (+40)
CTE helps learners make meaning and connect their education journey with future aspirations. While it is well known that CTE Concentrators (2 or more credits in an approved CTE Program of Study) graduate at a rate significantly higher than that of all students, learners who take even a single CTE course experience higher graduation rates. CTE helps learners succeed by tapping into passion and opportunity.

Learn more about CTE in Oregon HERE.

Leading in Times of Change & Uncertainty

The past few weeks have been a roller coaster—full of challenges, moments of uncertainty, and the constant balancing act of navigating different perspectives. In times like these, I find wisdom in the words of Elena Aguilar, who reminds us that “Resilient leaders cultivate the ability to sit with discomfort, listen deeply, and move forward with courage.” This work asks a lot of us—not just in skill, but in heart. We are often called to lead in spaces where people see the same situation through vastly different lenses. It can be exhausting, but it is also the work of bridge-building, of staying grounded in our values while holding space for complexity. In moments of tension, clear communication, deep listening, and a commitment to understanding are the tools that keep us moving forward together.

I want to acknowledge the energy, patience, and care you’ve poured into this year so far. It hasn’t been easy, but it matters. Your ability to show up for each other, to keep asking thoughtful questions, and to remain focused on the bigger picture- high quality learning for each and every scholar - is what makes this state and its communities strong.

Let’s take a deep breath and find moments to recharge. In the wise words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "I have decided to stick with love...hate is too great a burden to bear."

Thank you for all you do.

In Love and Justice,

Dr. W

Celebrating Black History Month in Our Classrooms

As we celebrate Black History Month, we have a valuable opportunity to deepen our students' understanding of the rich contributions, achievements, and ongoing legacy of Black Americans throughout our nation's history. This month offers a special chance to highlight often-overlooked narratives, celebrate Black excellence across all fields, and engage students in meaningful discussions about equity, justice, and representation.

We encourage educators to go beyond traditional approaches by incorporating Black history and achievements into their regular curriculum throughout the year. Consider exploring local Black history, featuring contemporary Black leaders and innovators, and connecting historical events to current social movements.

Many teachers and schools honor the accomplishments of Black pioneers and key historical figures during Black History Month. Attend an event celebrating Black History around the state and check out the resources for use throughout the year.

History and Civics Resources

The Tuskegee Airmen: The story behind the airmen and their double victory

The Oregon Black Pioneers website includes lesson plans created with Oregon teachers for elementary, middle, and high school classrooms.

PBS has an expansive collection of resources to celebrate the joy and achievements of the Black community including: Great Migrations: A People On The Move, Forgotten Hero: Walter White and the NAACP, and American Coup: Wilmington 1898.

iCivics offers a wide selection of resources including 5 short videos on Change Makers and the Civil Rights Era and a timely lesson on the 14th Amendment and birthright citizenship.

The American Federation of Teachers Share My Lesson has curated a collection of over 90 lessons and resources on history, art and culture, science, and economics for grades 6-12.

The Woodson Center’s K-12 Black History and Excellence lessons tell the stories of Black Americans whose tenacity and resilience enabled them to overcome adversity and make invaluable contributions to our country. The Woodson Center partnered with Oregon via the OER Commons platform to offer resources on 25 topics with versions for both high school and K-8 classrooms.

National Museum of African American History and Culture: The NorthStar.

Explore African American history through digital activities on the Smithsonian Learning Lab platform. The activities, or collections, have gathered objects, stories, videos and thinking questions all in one place.

Demonstrated Student Success: Summer Learning 2024 Reports Released

We are pleased to share two key updates on Oregon’s 2024 State Summer Learning Grant programs funded through House Bill 4082 (2024).

On February 3, ODE issued a press release recognizing the success of these programs and their importance in Oregon’s broader education strategy.
ODE has released the State Summer Learning Grant 2024 Implementation Analysis Report and 2024 Summer SEED Student Perception Survey Report, confirming over 28,000 students participated in summer learning experiences that strengthened literacy and math skills, supported high school credit recovery, and provided hands-on career exploration, mentorships, and culturally responsive programming.

These reports, companions to the HB 4082 Final Study, reinforce our commitment to sustainable funding for afterschool and summer learning. They highlight program impact while advancing efforts to secure ongoing investment and strengthen community partnerships for equitable, high-quality expanded learning statewide.

Thank you for your leadership in ensuring students have access to these critical opportunities. Please reach out to the ODE Summer Learning Team with any questions.

Online Report Card Released

Last month, Governor Tina Kotek and ODE announced the launch of the Online Report Card that makes crucial K-12 public education data more accessible for students, families and community members.

“In the past, despite the availability of the data, the public couldn’t easily access and understand how their schools were doing. That changes today,” said Governor Kotek. “I believe Oregon’s future depends on the success of its students. The online report card shows that we’re focused on outcomes and transparency.”

Many Oregonians are familiar with sifting through multiple Excel sheets, PDFs, and many web pages to access student data. Several of Oregon’s rural school districts expressed to ODE that staff time and efforts were hindered by how cumbersome the system was.

The new Online Report Card provides a wide array of school, district, and state accountability data, including graphs for regular attendance, the percentage of 9th Graders On-Track to graduate from high school, and other key indicators. The tool shows 2023-24 data that has already been released and will be updated in the fall each year. Data visualizations are provided for specific student groups, including displaying by race/ethnicity, Individualized Education Program status, and English Learner status. The Online Report Card is also available in Spanish.

“The Online Report Card is a vital step toward advancing educational equity by making critical data more transparent and accessible to all. This tool equips families and community members with information that helps them to actively engage in our shared mission of supporting every student’s success. As someone passionate about the power of data, I am excited about the visualizations that make it easier for Oregonians to understand how our education system is serving students and where we must do better to ensure Oregon’s children thrive,” ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams said.

The Online Report Card’s features include:

Visual displays of data that compare schools to their school district and to the state.
The ability to update visualizations to view grade levels and different student groups.
Data are also displayed in a tabular format beneath the data visualizations.
Data for the selected institution, year, and indicator can be downloaded into a spreadsheet.
The Online Report Card and all its data components are also available in Spanish.

“Learning from data helps us build a stronger education system that serves every scholar and ensures we make significant progress toward boosting attendance, improving early literacy and creating a culture of care that includes wrap-around support. Go online to view the report card today and see Oregon student success tomorrow,” Dr. Williams said.

ODE In the News

George Fox University profiled an alumnus and Regional Teacher of the Year Christa Rohrbach who teaches at Jefferson County Middle School in Madras.
OSBA News reported on the Summer Learning Report that ODE released the first week of February.
The Lake Oswego Review detailed the transparency improvements available to the public through ODE's Online Report Card.

February is CTE Month

Each February we celebrate Career and Technical Education (CTE) and the benefits that students realize through participation in programs that help them develop technical skills, employability skills and self-awareness about their employment career options. Early career exploration provides valuable insights into individual interests and aptitudes, enabling students to align their passions with an appropriate CTE program. Now is also a great time to energize students to consider participating in a CTE program of study during forecasting.

Did you know that for the Class of 2024, learners who took two or more credits in a CTE Program of Study graduated at a rate of 97.7%? That's 15.9 percentage points higher than the statewide average! Considering that CTE learners complete high school with direct knowledge of their interests, aptitudes and career options, CTE is a clear choice for Oregon learners.

What is your school or district doing to feature the accomplishments of CTE programs of study? Are you thanking CTE teachers, highlighting student work, and hosting a CTE showcase event for students and families? Revisit the January CCL newsletter for ideas and resources to promote CTE in your school or district! Share with the rest of the state too!

To promote the importance of CTE, the CTE Youth Advisory Council, sponsored by the Oregon Department of Education and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, has launched the #ThisIsCTE social media campaign. Follow ODE on Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter) to see how students are engaging, growing and learning thanks to CTE.

EVE Survey Now Open

The Elevating Voices in Education (EVE) Workforce Survey is now open.

What You Need to Know

All Public Education Providers* are required to provide staff with an opportunity to participate in the EVE Workforce Survey.

The EVE Workforce Survey is an anonymous and confidential survey designed to gather insights from the public education workforce about their workplace experiences in order to supply actionable information to the state and districts.

The law requires licensed, classified, and contracted staff members to be informed of and provided an opportunity to complete the EVE Survey, but staff participation in the EVE Survey is voluntary.

The survey will be open from February 4 - March 21, 2025.

Communications Tools to Help

Use the materials in this Eve Survey Toolkit folder to help you communicate to licensed, classified, and contract staff about the survey. In the folder you will find:

One Pager with Eve Survey QR & Access Code
Link to the survey in English
- Access Code: EVE2025
Link to the survey in Spanish
- Access Code: EVE2025
Eve Survey FAQ
Instructions for Survey Participants
Template Email Communications to Staff

Contact Us

If you have any questions about accessing or completing the EVE Workforce Survey please visit the EVE website or contact ODE.edstaffsurvey@ode.oregon.gov.

*Per ORS 342.676, Public Education Providers include districts, charter schools, ESDs, YCEP/JDEP, Oregon School for the Deaf, and long term care or treatment facilities.

The Power of Physical Education: Boosting Students’ Minds, Bodies, and Spirits

Physical education (PE) is more than just a break from the classroom; it’s a cornerstone of student success. Regular physical activity has profound benefits for students academically, physically, and emotionally.

On the academic front, studies show that physical activity enhances focus, memory, and problem-solving skills. A quick game of basketball or a brisk walk during PE can recharge students’ minds, helping them tackle their next lesson with greater clarity.

Physically, PE promotes fitness, coordination, and overall health. It sets the foundation for lifelong habits, reducing the risk of chronic illnesses and encouraging students to embrace active lifestyles. Emotionally, PE offers a space to release stress, build confidence, and foster teamwork. Whether mastering a yoga pose or cheering on a teammate, students develop resilience and interpersonal skills.

By engaging the body, PE empowers the mind and spirit, cultivating well-rounded, thriving students ready to learn.

Schools Play a Major Role

Schools are in a unique position to help students attain the nationally recommended 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence is important for promoting lifelong health and well-being and preventing various health conditions.

Recommended Actions

Emphasize a schoolwide approach:
- Implement a district-mandated 20-minute physical activity policy.
- Develop a schoolwide structured walking program.
- Include strategies for a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) in the Local School Wellness Policy.
- Ensure equitable access to recess.
Use the Active Schools Implementation Guide, which includes information, tools, and resources for creating an active school culture.
Review Parents for Healthy Schools to help schools, school groups, and school health teams encourage parent engagement in physical education and physical activity.
Consider increasing opportunities for active commuting, including Safe Routes to School and Walking School Buses.

Questions? Feel free to reach out anytime using this form. Whether you’re looking for resources, training updates, or general information, we’re here to help.

Student Spotlight

KJDY Radio in John Day talked with students at Grant Union High School who serve as Lunch Buddies at an elementary school once per week.
The Oregonian sat down with 2025 Oregon Kid Governor Rosie Lanenga from Riverdale Grade School in Portland to talk about her platform focused on climate change.
The Salem Reporter featured Salem-Keizer students who run a custom woodshop after school to hone the skills they learn in their residential construction CTE program.